An unconvincing 1-0 home victory over Cardiff on Sunday consolidated fifth place in the Barclays Premier League for Spurs, with head coach Sherwood acutely aware his side's own top-four aspirations are slipping.

Tottenham trail fourth-placed Manchester City by four points, but the newly-crowned Capital One Cup champions boast two games in hand over their rivals.

Tottenham travel to league leaders Chelsea on Saturday, and Sherwood claims Spurs can load the pressure on the Blues and Jose Mourinho's men.

"I don't know about Chelsea being more ambitious than us, we're going to the Bridge and that's definitely tough, but sometimes expectancy works against you," said the Tottenham head coach.

"Some of our fans might have been rubbing their hands expecting a few goals against Cardiff, but it doesn't work like that.

“We're looking to mess up as many other people's seasons as we can, and enhance ours at the same time”

Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood

"You've got to earn the right for everything.

"Sometimes when the expectation is not with you, it makes it a little bit easier.

"Games against Chelsea at the Bridge, Arsenal at the Emirates and Liverpool at Anfield, perhaps the pressure's off us a little bit and we can cause a surprise.

"We're looking to mess up as many other people's seasons as we can, and enhance ours at the same time."